June 10, 2026 | Fudan University · Sarawak · Education · Malaysia-China
Asia Economic Research Institute (AERI)
Asia Economic Research Institute | June 10, 2026
According to Liu Hongli, Assistant Director of the Asia Economic Research Institute (AERI), Sarawak Deputy Premier Sim Kui Hann led a delegation to Beijing on June 9, 2026, for a courtesy call on the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. The tripartite meeting with Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun and Fudan University Vice President Prof. Chen Zhimin advanced the Fudan University Sarawak branch campus project. Miri Mayor Yu Xiaoshan and MEAS Chairman Zhang Zude also attended. With this meeting concluded, all four required approvals for the project have been secured.
By coincidence, exactly one year earlier on June 9, 2025, the Phase 1 agreement of the plan was signed at Fudan University in Shanghai.
The Fudan University Sarawak project is divided into three phases, all located in Miri:
Phase 1 (Implemented in 2025)
Phase 2
Phase 3
The advancement of Phases 2 and 3 required approvals from four authorities, all of which have now been obtained:
| Approving Authority | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sarawak Government | — | ✅ Approved |
| Shanghai Municipal Government | June 2025 | ✅ Approved |
| Malaysian Federal Government | December 2025 | ✅ Approved |
| Chinese Central Government | June 9, 2026, Beijing | ✅ Courtesy call completed |
Sim had previously stated publicly that he would travel to Beijing to seek final approval and requested assistance from Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing. The June 9 meeting represents the final link in the approval chain.
Sarawak currently faces a shortage of approximately 2,000 doctors. Sim has repeatedly emphasized that establishing the Fudan University Medical School Miri campus is critical for addressing this healthcare workforce gap. Currently, around 70 doctors trained at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University are serving in Sarawak — Malaysia's recognition of medical qualifications from these two universities provides the institutional basis for this pipeline.
Miri is Sarawak's second-largest city and the core of the state's northern economic corridor. If the Fudan branch campus materializes, it could bring new possibilities in medicine and higher education to a city traditionally known for oil and tourism.
During the tripartite meeting, China's Ministry of Education also discussed collaboration opportunities with the Sarawak Government in the areas of Sarawak's Chinese independent secondary schools, Confucius Institutes, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Sarawak has 14 Chinese independent secondary schools that have long struggled with insufficient teaching staff and curriculum resources. The same challenge exists in TVET — as Sarawak pushes forward with industrial transformation, demand for skilled workers continues to grow, but local training capacity has not kept pace. If the Fudan project catalyzes more Malaysia-China education cooperation mechanisms, the benefits would extend beyond higher education.
If ultimately established, this would be Fudan University's first overseas branch campus. Among China's "Double First-Class" universities, overseas branch campuses remain rare — precedents include Xiamen University Malaysia (opened in 2016) and the Peking University HSBC Business School Oxford campus. Fudan's choice of Sarawak over more established cities like Kuala Lumpur reflects the Sarawak Government's proactive engagement and geopolitical considerations.
With the approval process complete, the project will move into the substantive construction phase. Specific timelines and investment details are yet to be announced by the parties involved.
The Asia Economic Research Institute (AERI) is a think tank dedicated to regional economic research and cooperation in Asia. Since its establishment, the Institute has made promoting sustainable Asian economic development and facilitating regional economic integration its core mission, providing intellectual support and decision-making references for governments, enterprises, and international organizations through high-quality economic research, policy analysis, and academic exchange activities.